These values might seem obvious to some, but they are actually values which so many religious institutions may preach, but not practice at all in their religious thought. Ultimately, those who view themselves as spiritual but not religious don't feel that faith can be shoved into scientific or empiricitic frameworks, and these same individuals reject the notion that all is real and can be known: rather these individuals believe that love, kindness, generosity, awe and wonder are some of the most important pillars of life and that it's nearly impossible to put these aspects in a box or encompassed in black and white thinking of certain religious dogmas. Many people who ascribe to this belief system truly do believe that there are secular movements in the world today which have similar spiritual foundations, but that many of these religious movements are just out of touch with those foundations (NSP, 2013). Other religious institutions are unwilling to even attempt to articulate those underpinnings and are shackled by fear, instead using their pillars of religion to justify war, oppression, sexism, racism, homophobia, insensitivity, or in justifying the suffering of the poor and homeless (NSP, 2013). Thus,...

Some of the biggest reasons for the growing popularity of this mindset is that too many religious institutions today are intolerant of marginalized groups or of the modern needs of modern society: thus they make daily life harder and not easier. In this regards, people have begun to gravitate more and more to lifestyle which allows them to be themselves, genuinely spread peace and love, and to have a relationship with the universal and the divine which helps them to feel a greater connection and order in the world.
References

Brown, C. (2014, March 3). Spiritual but Not Religious an Oxymoron? Retrieved from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/candy-gunther-brown-

phd/spiritual-but-not-religio_1_b_5054627.html

Colson, C. (2008, September). The coming persecution: How same-sex 'marriage' will harm Christians. Retrieved from Christianexaminer.com:

http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Colson/Art_Sep08_Colson.html

Holllywood, a. (2010, September). Spiritual but Not Religious. Retrieved from harvard.edu: http://www.hds.harvard.edu/news-events/harvard-divinity-bulletin/articles/spiritual-but-not-religious

Kurtlzeben, D. (2012, November 20). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from usnew.com: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/11/20/study-shows-women-who-had-abortions-less-likely-to-suffer-poverty

NSP. (2013). Spiritual but Not Religious . Retrieved from Spiritualprogressives.org:

http://www.spiritualprogressives.org/article.php/spiritual__butnot